Press Releases

CENLA Gets New Location to Safely Dispose of Prescription Drugs

12/5/2017

AG Jeff Landry Leads Partnership to Fight Louisiana Opioid Epidemic

ALEXANDRIA, LA - Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry today joined Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton to announce the latest location in General Landry's effort to provide drug take back boxes in every parish throughout the State.

Through a partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (BCBSLA) and the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators, General Landry is placing a drug take back box at the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office for the people of Central Louisiana to have a safe and secure location to drop off their unused or expired prescription drugs.

"My office began this initiative in an attempt to combat the rising opioid epidemic and make Louisiana safer for our families, friends, and visitors," said General Landry. "With the help of Sheriff Hilton, we now have a site in Alexandria for residents to drop off drugs that otherwise might have sat in medicine cabinets and been exposed to someone looking to misuse them."

"We are very proud to partner with Attorney General Landry, his office, and their efforts at combating the ever increasing opioid problem," said Sheriff Hilton. "We see addiction and how it touches lives every day. We get calls from citizens every week about what to do with expired medicine and medicines that they don't want falling into other people's hands. We have seen where addictions start with someone getting someone else's prescription pain medications, especially our younger population. Hopefully, this drop box will be a first step in helping eliminate this problem."

"The drug take back box has been a huge asset to the people of Grant Parish and it is used almost daily," said Grant Parish Sheriff McCain. "We appreciate the partnership with Attorney General Landry who has now made this tool available to our neighbors in Rapides Parish."

"We've been working with Attorney General Landry and law enforcement agencies for the past few years to get secure drug drop boxes installed in more parishes, and we're pleased to bring these boxes to the Central Louisiana region," said Michael Tipton, head of Community Relations for BCBSLA and president of the Blue Cross Foundation. "This is a safe way for area residents to get rid of their unused and expired prescription drugs, which can prevent them from being stolen or abused."

"The opioid epidemic knows no bounds; it affects all regions, economic classes, ages, and demographics," concluded General Landry. "So I am grateful to have partners like Sheriffs Hilton and McCain in our fight against this devastating and deadly problem."